Aviatik B.II (Germany)

Note: Not to be confused with the Austro-Hungarian Aviatik B.II series 32, 32.7 and 34 which were different aircraft.^[1]

B.II (German)
A German Aviatik B.II
Role	Reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer	Aviatik (Germany)
Designer	Robert Wild
First flight	1915
Introduction	1915
Retired	1916
Primary user	Luftstreitkräfte

The Aviatik B.II was a reconnaissance aircraft built in Germany during World War I.

Design and development

The (German) Aviatik B.II was a two-seat biplane of conventional configuration that seated its pilot and observer in tandem, open cockpits. Compared to its predecessor, the B.I, the B.II had a more powerful engine and revised nose design that faired the powerplant in more neatly, and a single "rhino horn" collector stack for the exhaust. A variety of two- and three-bay wing designs were utilised during production. While originally no armament was fitted (in common with other B- class aircraft), later production versions received a machine gun for the observer. All were withdrawn from front line service by early 1916, however the type continued in use as a trainer for a time with advanced flying training units (it is known that the B.II served in this role at FEA 9 at Darmstadt during 1916).^[2]

Operators

 German Empire

• Luftstreitkräfte

Specifications

Data from ^[3]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 7.1 m (23 ft 4 in)
• Wingspan: 12.35 m (40 ft 6 in)
• Height: 3.15 m (10 ft 4 in)
• Gross weight: 1,071 kg (2,361 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Mercedes D.II 6-cylinder water-cooled in-line piston engine, 89 kW (120 hp)
• Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 100 km/h (62 mph, 54 kn)
• Endurance: 4 hours
• Service ceiling: 6,100 m (20,000 ft)

References

1. Grosz, Peter M.; Haddow, George; Scheiner, Peter (2002) [1993]. Austro-Hungarian Army Aircraft of World War One. Boulder: Flying Machine Press. pp. 158–160. ISBN 1-891268-05-8.
2. Cowin, H.W. (2000). German and Austrian aviation of World War I : a pictorial chronicle of the airmen and aircraft that forged German airpower (1st ed.). Oxford: Osprey Pub. ISBN 1-84176-069-2.
3. Angelucci, Enzo (1983). The Rand McNally encyclopedia of military aircraft, 1914-1980. San Diego, California: The Military Press. p. 24. ISBN 0-517-41021-4.

Bibliography

• Herris, Jack (2023). Aviatik Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 10 (2nd ed.). n.p.: Aeronaut Books. ISBN 978-1-953201-59-1.

External links

• luftfahrt-archiv.de
• Military Aircraft Database^{[permanent dead link]}